"The Farewell Symphony The Farewell Symphony is a 1997 semi-autobiographical novel by Edmund White. It is the third of a trilogy of novels, being preceded by ""A Boy's Own Story"" (1982) and ""The Beautiful Room Is Empty"" (1988). It depicts the later adulthood of its protagonist and documents his experience of homosexuality from the 1960s to the 1990s. The title alludes to the ""Farewell"" Symphony by Joseph Haydn. Writing in ""The Wall Street Journal"", the journalist James Wolcott suggested that the book ""might have been more honestly titled ""Hilly Buttocks I Have Known,"""" wherein the author ""invites us to join"
"Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer, and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the US to receive worldwide acclaim. According to music critic Donal Henahan, he was ""one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history."" His fame derived from his long tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, from his conducting of concerts with most of the world's leading orchestras, and from his music for ""West Side Story"", ""Peter Pan"", ""Candide"", ""Wonderful Town"","
"The Bells (symphony) The Bells (, ""Kolokola""), Op. 35, is a choral symphony by Sergei Rachmaninoff, written in 1913. The words are from the poem ""The Bells"" by Edgar Allan Poe, very freely translated into Russian by the symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont. The traditional Gregorian melody ""Dies Irae"" is used frequently throughout the work. It was one of Rachmaninoff's two favorite compositions, along with his ""All-Night Vigil"", and is considered by some to be his secular choral masterpiece. Rachmaninoff called the work both a choral symphony and (unofficially) his Third Symphony shortly after writing it; however, he would later write"
"became apparent with Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, given the name ""Eroica"", which is Italian for ""heroic"", by the composer. As with Stravinsky's ""The Rite of Spring"", it may not have been the first in all of its innovations, but its aggressive use of every part of the Classical style set it apart from its contemporary works: in length, ambition, and harmonic resources as well. The First Viennese School is a name mostly used to refer to three composers of the Classical period in late-18th-century Vienna: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Franz Schubert is occasionally added to the list. In German-speaking countries, the"
"Songs of Farewell Songs of Farewell is a set of six choral motets by the British composer Hubert Parry. The pieces were composed between 1916 and 1918 and were among his last compositions before his death. The songs were written during the First World War when a number of Parry's pupils at the Royal College of Music were being killed in action. Parry's choice of texts are thought to reflect a yearning to escape the violence of a world at war, and to find peace in a heavenly realm. In contrast to Parry's assured 1916 setting of William Blake's poem"
"a letter to Marietta Shaginyan announcing the completion of the work. The Bells (symphony) The Bells (, ""Kolokola""), Op. 35, is a choral symphony by Sergei Rachmaninoff, written in 1913. The words are from the poem ""The Bells"" by Edgar Allan Poe, very freely translated into Russian by the symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont. The traditional Gregorian melody ""Dies Irae"" is used frequently throughout the work. It was one of Rachmaninoff's two favorite compositions, along with his ""All-Night Vigil"", and is considered by some to be his secular choral masterpiece. Rachmaninoff called the work both a choral symphony and (unofficially) his"
"such as Brahms and Mahler. His Symphony No. 6 is a programmatic work, featuring instrumental imitations of bird calls and a storm; and, unconventionally, a fifth movement (symphonies usually had at most four movements). His Symphony No. 9 includes parts for vocal soloists and choir in the last movement, making it a choral symphony. Of the symphonies of Franz Schubert, two are core repertory items and are frequently performed. Of the Eighth Symphony (1822), Schubert completed only the first two movements; this highly Romantic work is usually called by its nickname ""The Unfinished."" His last completed symphony, the Ninth (1826)"
"Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 4 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for ""A Midsummer Night's Dream"", the ""Italian Symphony"", the ""Scottish Symphony"", the overture ""The Hebrides"", his mature Violin Concerto, and his String Octet. His ""Songs Without Words"" are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism"
"it is more commonly known, ""The Unfinished Symphony"". Another famous unfinished classical piece is Mozart's ""Requiem"", famous in part because of the numerous myths and legends that surround its creation and in part because of Mozart's prestige. At the time of his death, Mozart had fully orchestrated only the first movement, leaving nine further movements in varying states of completion. Franz Xaver Süssmayr, an acquaintance of Mozart, finished the nine incomplete movements and wrote four more. Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 10 was incomplete, with only drafts, sketches, and two mostly orchestrated movements existing at the composer's death. Several people have"
"Symphony No. 5 (Bruckner) The Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (WAB 105) of Anton Bruckner was written in 1875–1876, with minor changes over the next two years. It came at a time of trouble and disillusion for the composer: a lawsuit, from which he was exonerated, and a reduction in salary. Dedicated to Karl von Stremayr, education minister in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the symphony has at times been nicknamed the “Tragic,” the “Church of Faith” or the “Pizzicato”; Bruckner himself referred to it as the “Fantastic” without applying this or any other name formally. The Fifth was first performed"
"Symphony of Psalms The Symphony of Psalms is a three-movement choral symphony composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1930 during his neoclassical period. The work was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The symphony derives its name from the use of Psalm texts in the choral parts. According to Stravinsky, the commission for the work came about from ""a routine suggestion"" from Koussevitzky, who was also Stravinsky's publisher, that he write something ""popular"" for orchestra without chorus. Stravinsky, however, insisted on the psalm-symphony idea, which he had had in mind for some time."
"Nikolai Myaskovsky Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky or Miaskovsky or Miaskowsky (; – 8 August 1950, was a Russian and Soviet composer. He is sometimes referred to as the ""Father of the Soviet Symphony"". Myaskovsky was awarded the Stalin Prize five times, more than any other composer. Myaskovsky was born in Modlin Fortress, near Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, the son of an engineer officer in the Russian army. After the death of his mother the family was brought up by his father's sister, Yelikonida Konstantinovna Myaskovskaya, who had been a singer at the Saint Petersburg Opera. The family moved to Saint"
"Anton Bruckner Josef Anton Bruckner (; ) was an Austrian composer, organist, and music theorist best known for his symphonies, masses, Te Deum and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving harmonies. Unlike other musical radicals such as Richard Wagner and Hugo Wolf, Bruckner showed extreme humility before other musicians, Wagner in particular. This apparent dichotomy between Bruckner the person and Bruckner the composer hampers efforts"
"""pedes meos"" from the second, and ""in cymbalis"" from the third. Symphony of Psalms The Symphony of Psalms is a three-movement choral symphony composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1930 during his neoclassical period. The work was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The symphony derives its name from the use of Psalm texts in the choral parts. According to Stravinsky, the commission for the work came about from ""a routine suggestion"" from Koussevitzky, who was also Stravinsky's publisher, that he write something ""popular"" for orchestra without chorus. Stravinsky, however, insisted on the"
"Symphony No. 96 (Haydn) The Symphony No. 96 in D major, Hoboken I/96, was completed by Joseph Haydn in 1791 as part of the set of symphonies composed on his first trip to London. It was first performed at the Hanover Square Rooms in London on 11 March 1791. Although it is the fourth of the twelve London symphonies (numbers 93–104) by number, it was actually the first one written and performed. It is popularly known as the Miracle Symphony. Symphony No. 96 has been called the Miracle symphony due to the story that, during its premiere, a chandelier fell"
"the Chicago premiere on December 26, 1940. Nikolai Myaskovsky Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky or Miaskovsky or Miaskowsky (; – 8 August 1950, was a Russian and Soviet composer. He is sometimes referred to as the ""Father of the Soviet Symphony"". Myaskovsky was awarded the Stalin Prize five times, more than any other composer. Myaskovsky was born in Modlin Fortress, near Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, the son of an engineer officer in the Russian army. After the death of his mother the family was brought up by his father's sister, Yelikonida Konstantinovna Myaskovskaya, who had been a singer at the Saint"
"recent recording by Hun-Joung Lim. All other recordings are of 1878 version in either the Haas or one of the Nowak editions. Symphony No. 5 (Bruckner) The Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (WAB 105) of Anton Bruckner was written in 1875–1876, with minor changes over the next two years. It came at a time of trouble and disillusion for the composer: a lawsuit, from which he was exonerated, and a reduction in salary. Dedicated to Karl von Stremayr, education minister in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the symphony has at times been nicknamed the “Tragic,” the “Church of Faith” or the"
"Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (; ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian-born composer, pianist, and conductor. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. Stravinsky's compositional career was notable for its stylistic diversity. He first achieved international fame with three ballets commissioned by the impresario Serge Diaghilev and first performed in Paris by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes: ""The Firebird"" (1910), ""Petrushka"" (1911), and ""The Rite of Spring"" (1913). The last of these transformed the way in which subsequent composers thought about rhythmic structure and was largely responsible for Stravinsky's enduring reputation as"
"Johan de Meij Johannes Abraham (Johan) de Meij (), born November 23, 1953, in Voorburg, Netherlands, is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his ""Symphony No. 1"", nicknamed ""The Lord of the Rings"" symphony. Johan de Meij received his musical training at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he studied trombone and conducting. His Symphony No. 1, ""The Lord of the Rings,"" received the Sudler Composition Prize and has been recorded by several noteworthy ensembles including The London Symphony Orchestra, The North Netherlands Orchestra, The Nagoya Philharmonic, and The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra. Before turning exclusively to"
"Johan de Meij Johannes Abraham (Johan) de Meij (), born November 23, 1953, in Voorburg, Netherlands, is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his ""Symphony No. 1"", nicknamed ""The Lord of the Rings"" symphony. Johan de Meij received his musical training at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he studied trombone and conducting. His Symphony No. 1, ""The Lord of the Rings,"" received the Sudler Composition Prize and has been recorded by several noteworthy ensembles including The London Symphony Orchestra, The North Netherlands Orchestra, The Nagoya Philharmonic, and The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra. Before turning exclusively to"
"Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (; 4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian Baroque musical composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and priest. Born in Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic, he is regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He composed many instrumental concertos, for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as the ""Four Seasons"". Many of his compositions were written for the"
"Roger Sessions, an academically oriented composer known for operas such as ""Motezuma"". The similarly academic William Schuman became known for such works as the ""New England Triptych"" and his Third Symphony. Schuman also became president of the Juilliard School, changing the school by forming the Juilliard String Quartet and merging the Institute of Musical Art with the Juilliard Graduate School, as well as hiring teachers such as William Bergsma, Peter Mennin and Hugo Weisgall, who went on to teach future luminaries such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. In the middle of the 20th century, the most influential New York"
"scholarships, and projects such as The Sudler Trophy, The Sudler Shield, The Sudler Silver Scroll, The Sudler Flag of Honor, The Historic Roll of Honor, The Sudler Cup, The Hawkins Scholarship, National Young Artists, The National Community Band, and The Junior Honor Band Project. Articles Dissertations John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa (; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known primarily for American military marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as ""The March King"", or the ""American March King"" due to his British"
"Dudley Simpson Dudley George Simpson (4 October 1922 – 4 November 2017) was an Australian composer and conductor. He was the Principal Conductor of the Royal Opera House orchestra for three years, although he is best known for his work as a composer on British television, especially his long association with the BBC science-fiction series ""Doctor Who"", for which he composed incidental music during the 1960s and 1970s. Among his early television work was the music for ""Moonstrike"" (1963). Simpson was also responsible for the theme music for ""The Brothers"" (1972), ""The Tomorrow People"" (1973), ""Moonbase 3"" (1973), ""The Ascent"
"Joby Talbot Joby Talbot (born 25 August 1971) is a British composer. He has written for a wide variety of purposes and an accordingly broad range of styles, including instrumental and vocal concert music, film and television scores, pop arrangements and works for dance. He is therefore known to sometimes disparate audiences for quite different works. Prominent compositions include the a cappella choral works ""The Wishing Tree"" (2002) and ""Path of Miracles"" (2005); orchestral works ""Sneaker Wave"" (2004), ""Tide Harmonic"" (2009), ""Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity"" (2012) and ""Meniscus"" (2012); the theme and score for the popular BBC Two comedy series"
"is a massive work in the Classical idiom. Of the early Romantics, Felix Mendelssohn (five symphonies) and Robert Schumann (four) continued to write symphonies in the classical mold, though using their own musical language. In contrast, Hector Berlioz favored programmatic works, including his ""dramatic symphony"" ""Roméo et Juliette"" and the highly original ""Symphonie fantastique"". The latter is also a programme work and has both a march and a waltz and five movements instead of the customary four. His fourth and last symphony, the ""Grande symphonie funèbre et triomphale"" (originally titled ""Symphonie militaire"") was composed in 1840 for a 200-piece marching"
"symphonies The following sources illustrate the confusion around the numbering of Schubert's late symphonies. The B minor ""Unfinished"" Symphony is variously published as No. 7 and No. 8, in both German and English. Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of piano and chamber music. His major works include the Piano Quintet in"
"Hector Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (; ; 11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic composer. His output includes orchestral works such as the ""Symphonie fantastique"" and ""Harold in Italy"", choral pieces including the Requiem and ""L'enfance du Christ"", his three operas ""Benvenuto Cellini"", ""Les Troyens"" and ""Béatrice et Bénédict"", and works of hybrid genres such as the ""dramatic symphony"" ""Roméo et Juliette"" and the ""dramatic legend"" ""La damnation de Faust"". The elder son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was expected to follow his father into medicine, and he attended a Parisian medical college before defying his family"
"of ""Alien"". Howard Hanson Howard Harold Hanson (October 28, 1896 – February 26, 1981) was an American composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of American classical music. As director for 40 years of the Eastman School of Music, he built a high-quality school and provided opportunities for commissioning and performing American music. He won a Pulitzer Prize (in 1944 for his ""Symphony no. 4"") and received numerous other awards. Hanson was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, to Swedish immigrant parents, Hans and Hilma (née Eckstrom) Hanson. In his youth he studied music with his mother. Later, he studied at Luther"
"Cyril Ornadel Cyril Ornadel (2 December 192422 June 2011) was a British conductor, songwriter and composer, chiefly in musical theatre. He worked regularly with David Croft, the television writer, director and producer, as well as Norman Newell and Hal Shaper. He was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for services to British Music and won a total of four Ivor Novello Awards. Ornadel was born in London into a middle-class Jewish family, and studied at the Royal College of Music. During the 1950s he was famous for conducting the orchestra for"
"England; at Bredon School in Gloucestershire, England (where the character Jim Prideaux was a master); at BBC ETD Wood Norton (final scenes with the mole) and in London. The end credits music, an arrangement of ""Nunc dimittis"" (""Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace"") from the ""Book of Common Prayer ""(1662), was composed by Geoffrey Burgon for organ, trumpet, and treble; the score earned Burgon the Ivor Novello Award for 1979 and was a Top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart. The treble on the original recording, Paul Phoenix, was a tenor in the King's Singers later"
"Stanley Hollingsworth Stanley Walker Hollingsworth (August 27, 1924, Berkeley, California – October 29, 2003, Rocklin, California) was an American composer and teacher. He was a student of composer Darius Milhaud from 1944–46, and of Gian Carlo Menotti from 1948–50. As a composer he is probably best known for his operatic trilogy of children's stories: ""The Mother"", ""The Selfish Giant"", and ""Harrison Loved his Umbrella"". Hollingsworth was conversant in all the vocal and instrumental forms, examples of which are his ""Five Songs"" (1960) for solo voice and piano, ""Death Be Not Proud"" (1978) for mixed chorus and piano or orchestra, Sonata"
"Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius (; ), born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius (8 December 186520 September 1957), was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia. The core of his oeuvre is his set of seven symphonies, which, like his other major works, are regularly performed and recorded in his home country and internationally. His other best-known compositions are ""Finlandia"", the ""Karelia Suite"", ""Valse triste"","